StubHub’s FanProtect Guarantee

This Sunday my beloved Yankees play their final game at the old Yankee Stadium. I have been a diehard Yankee fan my whole life and have been to the stadium countless times. Yet never was I more excited to attend a game then this Sunday’s home finale against the Orioles. I knew it was going to be a mix of emotions; sadness saying good bye to the old stadium, but excitement moving into the new state of the art stadium. Back in July I purchased four tickets to this game for $80 a piece through the online ticket provider StubHub. Not only was I pumped to see the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium, but I also noticed tickets in my area were going for around $1,000 each. So I figure not only can I see the game, but I can sell two of the tickets and make a nice little profit. What a day this was going to be. But StubHub had other ideas.

About two weeks ago I got a call from a customer service woman at StubHub telling me the seller had backed out and was no longer selling the tickets. This is after $320.00 plus service charges had been withdrawn from my Credit Card. Lets just say I was not too happy. I called and emailed numerous people at StubHub voicing my anger and frustration. So I go on StubHub’s site and check out their “FanProtect Guarantee” which provides:

We Guarantee:

You will get your tickets in time for the event.

Your tickets will be authentic and valid for entry.

You will receive tickets comparable to or better than the tickets you ordered, or your money back.

You will be refunded if the event is cancelled and is not rescheduled.

Did I get my tickets in time for the event? Nope. Were my tickets authentic and valid for entry? Nope. Was the event cancelled? Nope. It was the third guarantee which would screw me over, that StubHub would provide me with tickets comparable to or better than the tickets I ordered, or I would get my money back. I asked the woman if this was a guarantee that I would be getting comparable tickets. No, it is a guarantee that they will try to find comparable tickets in the same price range or they will refund my money. At that point I knew I was screwed. As I mentioned earlier, comparable tickets were going for $1,000 a piece. Clearly StubHub was not going to find comparable tickets and they refunded my money last week. But hey they gave me a $40 gift card! That really makes up for me missing the last game ever in Yankee Stadium.

So let’s just say I was pretty heated all last week. Then I hear the news that fans will be allowed to walk on Yankee Stadium’s field for three hours before the game and that Yogi Berra, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Craig Nettles and Bobby Richardson are to be part of the pregame ceremonies. What a day this is going to be and I will miss it because of StubHub’s policy. I might just have to make the trip to the Bronx anyway and see if I can pick up some tickets. If not, I’m sure good old Stan’s will be a good time.

Just curious if anyone has any ideas of how I could have got around this FanProtect Policy?